Germany’s Social Democrats are taking steps to revamp their leadership as a role in a new government beckons, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party slumped to its worst election result since World War II.

With 16.4% of the vote, down nine points from 2021, the SPD recorded its worst score since the post-war period. It is likely to join a coalition in the next government, led by the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz.

Incumbent German chancellor and SPD candidate Olaf Scholz called the outcome of the general election in Germany on Sunday (February 23) “a bitter result” and a defeat for his party. Could these jumping mice change how astronauts exercise?